Comments on: The Steve Jobs Story grows curiouser and curiouser http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-steve-jobs-story-grows-curiouser-and-curiouser Rex Hammock's Blog Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wondering About http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592/comment-page-1#comment-339549 Wondering About Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:12:42 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592#comment-339549 I'm not happy about Jobs' condition either. As the blog author says, Jobs' contributions are enormous. No doubt everyone involved in his care decisions will want to do everything possible to make his survival more likely. The article I read about guidelines for pancreas transplant precluding patients with pancreatic cancer said that the reason is because pancreatic cancers are so aggressive that the transplanted pancreas is certain to quickly become diseased. I looked this up hoping to find that Jobs could have benefitted from a pancreas transplant, possibly as part of a multi-organs transplant procedure. But what I found was that pancreas transplants are not even considered in cases of pancreatic cancer. News stories on Jobs' liver transplant have been riddled with obvious, glaring omissions -- like not mentioning that he's already undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer. Like not addressing the question of whether other major organs besides the liver are now involved. From what is known the logical conclusions are either that a man at the end stages of an awful terminal disease has just been put through a horrible, grueling procedure that will only slightly prolong the inevitable -- OR that he's received much more radical and unorthodox treatments than his spokespersons have admitted to. @Stu: Good news for your friend. There are big variations in wait times across the country. It's been a few years since I looked into it but I'm not aware that a majority of liver transplant patients now survive until transplant. If so that's a big positive step. @ itsmenyc: I believe that liver transplant patients with alcoholic cirrhosis have to abstain from drinking as a condition of being listed for transplant. I have to believe the same would apply for IV drug abusers. Transplant criteria are supposed to be all about admitting patients who are likely to survive. I’m not happy about Jobs’ condition either. As the blog author says, Jobs’ contributions are enormous. No doubt everyone involved in his care decisions will want to do everything possible to make his survival more likely.

The article I read about guidelines for pancreas transplant precluding patients with pancreatic cancer said that the reason is because pancreatic cancers are so aggressive that the transplanted pancreas is certain to quickly become diseased. I looked this up hoping to find that Jobs could have benefitted from a pancreas transplant, possibly as part of a multi-organs transplant procedure. But what I found was that pancreas transplants are not even considered in cases of pancreatic cancer.

News stories on Jobs’ liver transplant have been riddled with obvious, glaring omissions — like not mentioning that he’s already undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer. Like not addressing the question of whether other major organs besides the liver are now involved. From what is known the logical conclusions are either that a man at the end stages of an awful terminal disease has just been put through a horrible, grueling procedure that will only slightly prolong the inevitable — OR that he’s received much more radical and unorthodox treatments than his spokespersons have admitted to.

@Stu:
Good news for your friend. There are big variations in wait times across the country. It’s been a few years since I looked into it but I’m not aware that a majority of liver transplant patients now survive until transplant. If so that’s a big positive step.

@ itsmenyc:
I believe that liver transplant patients with alcoholic cirrhosis have to abstain from drinking as a condition of being listed for transplant. I have to believe the same would apply for IV drug abusers. Transplant criteria are supposed to be all about admitting patients who are likely to survive.

]]> By: Stu http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592/comment-page-1#comment-339519 Stu Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:50:04 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592#comment-339519 @wondering about: I can't provide the reference right now, but I saw figures the other day that critical people spend about 21 days on the transplant list, and I personally know someone that got a liver/kidney transplant six weeks ago. You might want to take a deep breath before writing. @wondering about:
I can’t provide the reference right now, but I saw figures the other day that critical people spend about 21 days on the transplant list, and I personally know someone that got a liver/kidney transplant six weeks ago. You might want to take a deep breath before writing.

]]> By: itsmenyc http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592/comment-page-1#comment-339515 itsmenyc Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:31:09 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592#comment-339515 Many people require liver transplants do to alcoholism and drug abuse. So one could argue that a person who is innocent of abusing their body should be ahead of someone who did. Many people require liver transplants do to alcoholism and drug abuse. So one could argue that a person who is innocent of abusing their body should be ahead of someone who did.

]]> By: Rex Hammock http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592/comment-page-1#comment-339511 Rex Hammock Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:33:44 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592#comment-339511 Typically, I wouldn't approve such anonymous comments as the one above, but I'd like to respond to it: I don't give a rats ass how much money Steve Jobs has -- I would put in the front of any line. And despite the many times I've criticized Jobs on this blog for some management decision, if I were in line in front of him for a liver transplant, I would gladly exchange places. If it were not for Mr. Jobs, the success I've enjoyed in business would not have been possible -- his vision and tenacity created nearly all of the technology that has leveled the playing field between me and giant companies that would have been insurmountable competitors if I had tried to do what I've done before Steve Jobs made it possible. (And I won't even go into the direct number of jobs he's created or the people his movies (Pixar) has inspired.) Not to be insensitive, but any guideline that doesn't take into account "contribution to mankind" needs re-thinking. Jobs is the Thomas Edison / Henry Ford of our era. With their dark-sides -- and their were significant ones -- I think we would have wanted to do whatever possible to extend their ability to contribute to the world. Typically, I wouldn’t approve such anonymous comments as the one above, but I’d like to respond to it: I don’t give a rats ass how much money Steve Jobs has — I would put in the front of any line. And despite the many times I’ve criticized Jobs on this blog for some management decision, if I were in line in front of him for a liver transplant, I would gladly exchange places. If it were not for Mr. Jobs, the success I’ve enjoyed in business would not have been possible — his vision and tenacity created nearly all of the technology that has leveled the playing field between me and giant companies that would have been insurmountable competitors if I had tried to do what I’ve done before Steve Jobs made it possible. (And I won’t even go into the direct number of jobs he’s created or the people his movies (Pixar) has inspired.) Not to be insensitive, but any guideline that doesn’t take into account “contribution to mankind” needs re-thinking. Jobs is the Thomas Edison / Henry Ford of our era. With their dark-sides — and their were significant ones — I think we would have wanted to do whatever possible to extend their ability to contribute to the world.

]]> By: Wondering About http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592/comment-page-1#comment-339506 Wondering About Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:26:42 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592#comment-339506 How can a guy who doesn't qualify for pancreas transplant, based on the fact that he's already been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, how does this guy get himself moved to the front of the line for a liver transplant? Nearly everyone on a liver transplant wait list dies before a liver becomes available. Which means Jobs must have bought a foreign organ or else he received a live donor partial organ transplant. Did he get a kidney too? Did he buy an Asian pancreas to go with the new liver and kidney? Or did a Tennessee transplant center violate U.S. organ transplant guidelines? Remember, the last story about Jobs' condition was all about nutritional absorption issues--not tumors, not mets to major organs, which was obviously the real story back then. Jobs has more money than God so there's no question he can afford to buy the organs he needs. The question is how many. How can a guy who doesn’t qualify for pancreas transplant, based on the fact that he’s already been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, how does this guy get himself moved to the front of the line for a liver transplant? Nearly everyone on a liver transplant wait list dies before a liver becomes available. Which means Jobs must have bought a foreign organ or else he received a live donor partial organ transplant. Did he get a kidney too? Did he buy an Asian pancreas to go with the new liver and kidney? Or did a Tennessee transplant center violate U.S. organ transplant guidelines?

Remember, the last story about Jobs’ condition was all about nutritional absorption issues–not tumors, not mets to major organs, which was obviously the real story back then.

Jobs has more money than God so there’s no question he can afford to buy the organs he needs. The question is how many.

]]> By: Web Media Daily – Sunday June 21, 2009 | Reinventing Yourself... http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592/comment-page-1#comment-339413 Web Media Daily – Sunday June 21, 2009 | Reinventing Yourself... Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:02:16 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2009/06/21/19592#comment-339413 [...] The Steve Jobs Story grows curiouser and curiouser [...] [...] The Steve Jobs Story grows curiouser and curiouser [...]

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